Studies on clinicopathological features of lung cancer patients with K-ras/p53 gene alterations: comparison between younger and older groups

In order to define the roles of the K-ras and p53 genes in the development of lung cancer, especially in young adults, we compared the clinicopathological features of the patients between younger (< or = 45 years, n = 47) and older (< 55 years, n = 50) groups. The gene alterations were examined by the polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method. The K-ras gene alterations were detected only in adenocarcinomas, and the p53 gene alterations in all histologic types of lung cancer. There were no significant differences in the frequency of both K-ras and p53 gene alterations between the younger and older groups (9 vs. 11%, 36 vs. 32%). In the younger group, but not in the older one, the percentage for smokers was significantly higher in the p53 gene alteration-positive group than for the negative group (65 vs. 30%). As to the prognosis, there were no significant differences between the p53 gene alteration-positive and -negative cases in both the younger and older groups as well as in all subjects, while a tendency of poorer prognosis was observed in K-ras gene alteration-positive cases than for the -negative ones with adenocarcinomas. These results suggest that (1) the K-ras and p53 gene alterations would have no special roles in terms of the lung carcinogenesis in young adults; (2) a positive relationship between smoking and p53 gene alteration would exist in young adults with lung cancer, and (3) K-ras gene alteration would become a prognostic factor in lung cancer.

Cadherin 11 expression marks the mesenchymal phenotype: towards new functions for cadherins?

Cadherin-11 (cad-11) belongs to the cell adhesion type II cadherin family, which seems to have different functions from the classic cadherin family. This study shows the overall pattern of cad-11 gene expression during rat embryonic development, from the pregastrula to very late embryonic stage. Cad-11 is the first cadherin found to be highly expressed in the dispersed and migrating mesenchymal cells that originate from the neuroectodermal neural crest cells and from the pre-chordal and paraxial mesoderm. A burst of cad-11 expression appears during the epithelial to mesenchymal transition, as observed by sclerotome formation. Cad-11 mRNAs were present in all mesenchymal cells throughout the embryo, regardless of their embryonic origin. A proximo-distal and antero-posterior gradient of cad-11 expression is seen in the limb buds, genitalia, and tail. As development proceeds, while all epithelium are negative, cad-11 is present in all mesenchymal cells involved in various morphogenetic events, such as the mesenchyme condensations during chondrogenesis and in the formation of sclera, cornea, naris, palate and meninges. Cad-11 was strongly expressed in mesenchyme during lung or kidney branching morphogenesis or the many epithelium to mesenchyme inductions that operate in the nasal septum, skin, vibrissae, teeth and various glands. High levels of cad-11 transcripts were also found in the dispersed cells of the hyaloid plexus in the vitreous body and in the invading mesenchyme within the trabeculae of the outflow tract of the heart. Cad-11 is thus specific to the mesenchymal phenotype whatever the stage of embryonic development.

Xenopus PKN: cloning and sequencing of the cDNA and identification of conserved domains

cDNA clone encoding Xenopus laevis PKN has been isolated from Xenopus kidney library. Sequencing of this clone has revealed a single open reading frame encoding a protein of 901 amino acids. Immunoprecipitate from cytoplasmic fraction of COS7 cells transfected with this cDNA construct using antiserum against bacterially expressed Xenopus PKN revealed arachidonic acid-dependent autophosphorylation activity. Comparison of the closely related sequences of human and rat PKN with a protein from evolutionarily distant Xenopus, revealed several highly invariant domains in the NH2-terminal regulatory regions, suggesting that they participate in binding interaction with arachidonic acid.

[A case of eosinophilic pneumonia presenting as hemoptysis, with epithelioid cell granuloma on lung biopsy]

A 60-year-old woman was admitted because of hemoptysis and dyspnea on exertion, which began one month before admission and gradually increased. Chest X-ray film taken on admission showed an infiltrative shadow in and around the left posterior basal segment. Chest CT disclosed peripheral and patchy consolidation with some air bronchograms and interstitial thickening in the left basal segments. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid contained many red blood cells and abnormally high numbers of eosinophils and lymphocytes. The specimen obtained by CT-guided lung biopsy revealed epithelioid cell granulomas, hemosiderin-laden macrophages, diffuse infiltration of small round cells with a few eosinophils and monocytes in the alveolar septa, and many eosinophils in the intraalveolar exudates. No pathogens of pulmonary eosinophilia were identified and there was no secondary pulmonary eosinophilia. Therefore, we diagnosed eosinophilic pneumonia with no obvious cause. Hemoptysis may have been due to alveolar hemorrhage of eosinophilic pneumonia. The hemoptysis and chest infiltrative shadow disappeared rapidly after the start of treatment with oral prednisolone.

[Idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (type B) with subacute progressively enlarged bullae]

A 70-year-old man with a 10-year history of seal engraving presented with exertional dyspnea and dry coughing. Chest roentgenograms showed an interstitial shadow and bilateral progressively enlarging bullae. Open lung biopsy led to the diagnosis of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (Type B). The size of bullae usually does not change, so cases such as this are rare because the bullae continued to expand subacutely. Persistent stimulation by the inhaled A1 and Si may have played a role in the pathogenesis of this condition.

Activation of trypsinogen in experimental models of acute pancreatitis in rats

Trypsinogen activation peptide (TAP) concentration and alpha 2-macroglobulin-trypsin complex (alpha 2M-T) activity were measured in two experimental models of acute pancreatitis in rats to evaluate the significance of activation of trypsinogen in acute pancreatitis. TAP concentration and alpha 2M-T activity in serum rose significantly in trypsin-taurocholate-induced hemorrhagic acute pancreatitis, while in cerulein-induced edematous acute pancreatitis they did not rise in spite of a similar increase in immunoreactive trypsin. When rats in trypsin-taurocholate-induced pancreatitis were treated by protease inhibitor (FUT-175; nafamostat mesilate; FUT group), alpha 2M-T activity in serum was significantly lower than that in nontreated controls (mean +/- SEM, 20.8 +/- 1.43 U/L in the FUT group vs 79.1 +/- 24.5 in controls; p < 0.01). The survival rate at 24 h was significantly improved in the FUT group compared with the controls (70 vs 43%; p < 0.05). The increase in TAP concentration in the FUT group was similar to that in controls. The TAP concentration in pancreatic tissue at 24 h was significantly (p < 0.01) lower in the survival group (7.8 +/- 0.8 ng/ml) than in the lethal group (25.9 +/- 3.7 ng/ml). Activation of trypsinogen and its subsequent enzyme activity play an important role in the evolution of severe acute pancreatitis.

Pancreatic stone protein and lactoferrin in human pancreatic juice in chronic pancreatitis

Lactoferrin and pancreatic stone protein (PSP) are thought to be closely related to pancreatic stone formation in chronic pancreatitis. However, the results reported so far have not been conclusive. To reevaluate the pathological importance of PSP in chronic pancreatitis, compared to lactoferrin, levels of PSP were determined by applying an immunoassay specific to PSP to pure pancreatic juice taken from a total of 52 patients. The patients consisted of 16 controls, 19 chronic pancreatitis patients (13 noncalcified and 6 calcified), and 17 probable cases of pancreatitis. The monoclonal antibody PSP antagonist used in the study recognizes both forms of the protein, PSP S1 and S2-5, with equal effectiveness. No significant reduction of PSP was observed in either calcified (mean +/- SEM, 111 +/- 30 micrograms/mg and 24 +/- 3 micrograms/mg protein) or noncalcified (305 +/- 133 and 97 +/- 47) chronic pancreatitis patients compared with controls (85 +/- 23 and 34 +/- 16). PSP levels did not decrease, at least not in the complete forms of the protein found in chronic pancreatitis. PSP antibody and assay results indicated that a reduction of PSP S2-5 alone could not be ruled out in chronic pancreatitis either.

A variant form of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) in a malignantly transformed rat thyroid (FRTL-Tc) cell line

Cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) controls the transition from the G1 to the S phase in the mammalian cell cycle. We found by immunoblotting that anti-Cdk2 antibodies recognize three Cdk2 proteins (of 33, 34 and 39 kDa) in FRTL-5 and FRTL-Tc cells (malignantly transformed FRTL cells). Although 33 kDa protein is a phosphorylated form of 34 kDa protein previously reported, the nature of 39 kDa protein is unknown. In order to determine the nature of this protein, we screened a FRTL-5 cDNA library. Two cDNA clones of the rat homologue (rat Cdk2-alpha and -beta) of human Cdk2 were isolated. The open reading frame of rat Cdk2-alpha cDNA encoded a protein with 428 amino acids and has a high degree of conservation with human Cdk2. The calculated molecular weight of Cdk2-alpha protein is 33892 Da. The rat Cdk2-beta cDNA was identical to Cdk2-alpha cDNA except that it had extra 144 bp; this coincided with insertion of 48 amino acids into Cdk2-alpha protein between Met 196 and Val 197. The calculated molecular weight of Cdk2-beta protein is 39087 Da. Northern blot analysis indicated that the sizes of rat Cdk2-alpha and -beta mRNAs are approximately 2.5 kb and 3.0 kb, respectively. Partial proteolytic mapping showed that Cdk2-beta gene product is 39 kDa Cdk2 in the immunoblotting. We also found that Cdk2-beta protein binds to cyclin A and suc1 proteins. During G1-S phase in FRTL-Tc cells, Cdk2-alpha protein level is constant, but is gradually phosphorylated. In contrast, the level of Cdk2-beta protein increases through the S phase and decreases at the early G2 phase. These results suggest that a variant form of Cdk2 protein might be required for entry into the S phase of the cell cycle in FRTL-Tc cells.

Distribution pattern of the basement membrane components is one of the significant prognostic correlates in peripheral lung adenocarcinomas

Clinicopathological variables that might have an effect on prognosis were analyzed in 98 samples of resectable peripheral lung adenocarcinoma. Pathological stage (stage I v stage II, III, or IV; P < .001), degree of central fibrosis (grade 1 or 2 v grade 3 or 4; P < .01), and histological grade (well differentiated v moderately or poorly differentiated; P < .05) were shown to be prognostic factors, whereas any other variable, including patient age at diagnosis, sex, cigarette smoking habits, and tumor histological subtype and cytological type, showed no meaningful correlation with patient length of survival. The distribution pattern of the basement membranes (BMs) was significantly associated with pathological stage (intact v disrupted or absent; P < .001). It was noteworthy that in stage I samples a significant relationship between the distribution pattern of the BMs and patient length of survival was found (intact v disrupted or absent; P < .001), although such a relationship could not be detected when analyzed in samples from the other pathological stages. The distribution pattern of the BMs also was correlated with the presence or absence of lymph node metastasis but not with its extension. There were no meaningful relationships between the distribution pattern of the BMs and any other clinicopathological variables, including degree of central fibrosis, histological grade, etc. The distribution pattern of the BMs in peripheral lung adenocarcinomas might be useful for postoperative therapeutic strategy and could serve as an important prognostic indicator for stage I lesions.

[A case of rheumatoid arthritis with a remarkable left-right difference in pulmonary lesions and acute exacerbation of pneumonia]

A 59-year-old woman had a four-year history of rheumatoid arthritis. Despite treatment with prednisolone for interstitial pneumonia, her chest X-ray films revealed gradual progression of reticular shadows, mainly in the left lung, and during the third hospitalization she died of respiratory failure due to acute exacerbation of pneumonia. At autopsy, there was a remarkable difference in lung weight: left 250 g, right 510 g. Microscopically, the pulmonary lesion was mild fibrosing interstitial pneumonia, with remarkable luminal organization and macrophages in parts. The features of unilateral interstitial pneumonia with bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia were clearer in the left lung. The cause of the acute exacerbation and of the difference in interstitial pneumonia between sides could not be identified.

Possible involvement of the transcription factor ISGF3 gamma in virus-induced expression of the IFN-beta gene

Two virus-inducible transcription factors, IRF-1 and IRF-2 have been identified as an activator and a repressor, respectively, of the type I interferon (IFN) genes. Recent studies with mice carrying null mutations for the IRF-1 or IRF-2 alleles have revealed the existence of IRF-1-dependent and -independent pathways mediating IFN-beta gene induction. Here we report that the expression of an IRF family member ISGF3 gamma is induced upon viral infection in IRF-1-/-, IRF-2-/- embryonic fibroblasts. Furthermore, ISGF3 gamma can bind to a virus-inducible promoter element in the IFN-beta gene. These results suggest that ISGF3 gamma or complex containing ISGF3 gamma is involved in the IRF-1-independent pathway mediating IFN-beta gene regulation.

Phosphorylation of E2F-1 by cyclin A-cdk2

Transcription factor E2F-1 has a putative consensus sequence for phosphorylation by cyclin dependent kinase (Ser-Pro-X-Lys/Arg). Therefore, we studied the phosphorylation of E2F-1 in vivo and in vitro and its biological functions. E2F-1 was prepared by immunoprecipitation with anti-E2F-1 antibody from IMR32 lysates and was effectively phosphorylated by human cyclin A-cdk2 which was expressed in insect cells using baculovirus system. GST-E2F-1 was phosphorylated by cyclin A-cdk2 more efficiently than by cyclin E-cdk2. Cyclin D1-cdk4 phosphorylated pRB but scarcely phosphorylated GST-E2F-1 or H1 histone. The 60 kd protein precipitated with anti-E2F-1 antibody was phosphorylated in vivo. Phospho-peptide mapping indicated that its cleavage profile was identical with that of E2F-1 phosphorylated by cyclin A-cdk2 in vitro. This 60 kd protein, which is likely to be E2F-1, was not phosphorylated during the G0 and early G1 phase. Phosphorylation of E2F-1 began from the S phase while phosphorylation of pRB started nearly at G1/S. The in vivo phosphorylation of E2F-1 was inhibited by butyrolactone I, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (Kitagawa et al., 1993, Oncogene, 8, 2425-2432). The binding of E2F-1 to E2 promoter was found to be reduced by phosphorylation of E2F-1 by cyclin A-cdk2, suggesting that phosphorylation of E2F-1 may induce shut off of gene expression at the transcriptional level. These results suggest that E2F-1 is phosphorylated by cyclin A-cdk2 in the S phase in vivo as well as in vitro and that its phosphorylation by cyclin A-cdk2 may modulate its activity.

Targeted disruption of the neurotrophin-3 gene with lacZ induces loss of trkC-positive neurons in sensory ganglia but not in spinal cords

We have replaced the NT-3 gene with Escherichia coli-derived lacZ gene by means of homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells and thus produced null mutant mice. Mice homozygous for this mutation developed to birth, but most of them could not suck well and died within 2 days after birth. The surviving homozygous mutant mice displayed movement disorder similar to ataxia. The expression of lacZ was widely distributed in the target tissues of peripheral nerves, spinal motor neurons, lumbar dorsal root ganglia and trigeminal ganglia during the prenatal periods. A neuroanatomical examination revealed that there was marked cell reduction present in trigeminal and lumbar dorsal root ganglia in the developing homozygous mutant mice. In these tissues, the expression of trkC, a high-affinity receptor for NT-3, was markedly reduced. In contrast, we did not find any morphological abnormalities, significant cell loss or decreased levels of trkC expression in the motor neurons present in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. These results indicate that the absence of the NT-3 gene leads to a defect in the sensory nervous system, but it may be complemented by other neurotrophins in the motor nervous system during the development.

Asbestos body formation in the human lung: distinctions, by type and size

The fraction of fibers coated in a total of 3,800 asbestos fibers from 38 patients with disease related to asbestos (100 fibers per patient) was determined, according to asbestos fiber type and size parameters. Among the 3,800 fibers, 638 (16.8%) were coated and 3,162 were uncoated. All fibers were analyzed at 2,000 x magnification (lower limit of detection: 2 microns for length and 0.06 microns for diameter). The diameter of the totally coated fibers (28.4% of total bodies; 181/638) was not measured. The percentage of coated fibers varied with the asbestos type; it was 27.1% (335/1235) for amosite fibers, 16.0% (228/1423) for crocidolite, 6.6% (60/908) for tremolite or actinolite, 6.5% (14/214) for anthophyllite, and 5% (1/20) for chrysotile fibers. Most coated fibers were longer than 10 microns and had an aspect ratio (length/diameter) of more than 20. Approximately 60% of coated fibers had an aspect ratio of more than 100. The longer the fiber, the greater the percentage of coated fibers, regardless of diameter. The increase in the percentage associated with length was more marked in fibers with a smaller diameter; the percentage of coated fibers was, therefore, greater in fibers 30 microns or less in diameter. However, in fibers longer than 30 microns, the relationship to percentage of coated fibers was not as clear, and the diameter was less important. Accordingly, the fibers with high aspect ratios, particularly long fibers, tended to show asbestos body formation. The percentage of long fibers was highest in amosite, and the percentage of fibers with an aspect ratio of more than 100 was highest in amosite and crocidolite.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Evaluation of prognostic-significance of p53 gene alterations in patients with surgically resected lung-cancer

Clinical significance of p53 gene alterations, as a prognostic factor, was assessed in 69 patients with surgically resected lung cancer. The p53 gene alterations (exon 5-9) were examined by the polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method of genomic DNA. The p53 gene alterations were detected in all histological types of lung cancer, with a positive rate of 45% (31/69). In the alteration-positive group, patients in the advanced stages of III and IV were seen more frequently than in the negative group (58% vs. 21%, p<0.05). Such a difference was not observed in other parameters such as age, gender, histological type and smoking habit. The prognosis was, on a whole, poorer in the alteration-positive group than for the -negative one (5-year survival rate: 19.3% vs. 40.6%, MST: 17 months vs. 36 months), but the difference did not reach statistical significance. However, in the case of females (p<0.05), adenocarcinoma (p<0.01), early stages of I and II (p<0.05) and non-smokers (p<0.005), a significantly poorer prognosis was observed in the gene alteration-positive group than for the -negative one. These results suggest that the p53 gene alteration may be a useful prognostic factor in certain subgroups with lung resected for cancer.

Morphometric studies of renal lesions in Itai-itai disease: chronic cadmium nephropathy

Renal cortex in 15 cases with Itai-itai disease was morphometrically examined, i.e. the cross-size of tubuli in the renal cortex was measured using a color image analyzer (Olympus CIA-102) and the ratio of preserved urinary tubuli occupying renal cortex was calculated by means of the point-counting method. The former and the latter decreased gradually together as atrophy of kidney advanced. However, their decrease was stopped at about 60 g of kidney weight and it was inferred to be the limit of histopathologic changes of the kidneys with Itai-itai disease. Comparing the cross-size of the tubuli of the outer cortex area [= S(o)] with one of the inner cortex area [= S(i)], changes were more marked in S(o). This revealed that the outer cortex area was more sensitive to Cd intoxication and it was more affected by systemic atherosclerosis than the inner cortex area. It was concluded that when atrophy of kidneys as seen with Itai-itai disease was extremely progressing, decreases in the number and volume of tubuli in the cortex usually occurred at the same time and in a regular manner.

Clinicopathological study of primary malignant tumors of the lung: an analysis of 993 tumors resected at the Kanazawa University Hospital between 1979-1993

A retrospective study was conducted of 993 malignant tumors of the lung in 977 patients. The male-female sex ratio was 2.6:1. The age distribution of the males did not differ from that of the females and the overall mean age was 64.3 +/- 9.5 years (range, 13-85 years). Forty-three percent of the patients were in their seventh decade. The location was peripheral in 81% of the tumors and central in 19%. Of the central tumors, 85% were squamous cell (epidermoid) carcinoma (SCC), while 58% of the peripheral tumors were adenocarcinoma (ADENO). In males, 49% of all tumors were SCC and 36% ADENO, while in females 76% were ADENO. The incidence of positive lymph node metastasis increased in parallel with the pT status in both central and peripheral carcinomas. However, it was noted that, of peripheral lung carcinomas, no SCC with a diameter of 15 mm or less had lymph node metastasis, whereas 18.9% of the ADENO of this size were positive for lymph node metastasis. These results indicate that lymph node metastasis can occur even in small-sized peripheral ADENO less than 15 mm. Thus, early detection and surgery together with mediastinal lymph node dissection are necessary even for small-sized tumors to improve the prognosis in patients with peripheral ADENO of the lung.

Relationship between antisaccades and the clinical symptoms in Parkinson's disease

We studied voluntary control of saccadic eye movement in 32 parkinsonian patients using the antisaccade task (the subjects were instructed not to look at the target but to look in the opposite direction). Mean latencies and error rates in the antisaccade task were significantly increased in advanced parkinsonian patients. The latencies of the antisaccades correlated with the severity of bradykinesia as well as the results of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Patients taking anticholinergics showed significantly higher error rates. These results suggest that disturbance in the initiation of voluntary saccades in advanced patients may be associated with frontal lobe dysfunction, while anticholinergics may affect the inhibitory control of reflexive saccades.

Bone marrow transplantation from Fv-4-resistant donors rescues Friend leukemia virus-infected mice from leukemia: a model of bone marrow transplantation therapy against retroviral infection

Bone marrow transplantation experiments were conducted in mice in order to develop an experimental bone marrow transplantation therapy model, with which to investigate possible means to cure retrovirus-infected hosts with bone marrow or stem cells from virus-resistant donors. In one experiment, lethally irradiated Friend leukemia virus (FLV)-sensitive C3H/He (C3H; Fv-2s, Fv-4s, Rfv-1s, Rfv-2s Rfv-3s) mice were transplanted with (i) bone marrow cells from FLV-resistant BALB/c-Fv-4Wr (C4W; Fv-2s, Fv-4r, Rfv-1s, Rfv-2s, Rfv-3s) mice (C4W --> C3H) or (ii) a mixture of bone marrow cells from C4W and C3H mice (C4W + C3H --> C3H). They were then inoculated with FLV 3-4 months later and leukemia development was examined. The results indicated that C4W --> C3H chimeras were completely resistant to FLV-induced leukemogenesis and that C4W + C3H --> C3H mixed chimeras that contained as low as 30% C4W-derived cells, or as high as 70% C3H-derived cells, did not develop leukemias. In another experiment, bone marrow cells from C57BL/6 (B6; Fv-2r, Fv-4s, Rfv-1r, Rfv-2r, Rfv-3r) or C4W donors were grated to FLV-sensitive DBA/2 mice (DBA; Fv-2s, Fv-4s, Rfv-1s, Rfv-2s, Rfv-3s) that had been infected with FLV 6 days earlier (DBA-FLV). The results indicated that most, if not all, FLV-infected DBA mice which received bone marrow transplantation from B6 donors developed B6-derived leukemias, although the survival time of these mice was dramatically prolonged as compared to that of untreated DBA-FLV mice. In contrast, bone marrow transplantation from Fv-4r-bearing C4W donors successfully rescued FLV-infected DBA mice from leukemic deaths. Thus, the bone marrow transplantation therapy against retroviral infection of hemopoietic cells was shown to be feasible, provided that donor cells carry a resistant allele that functions via receptor blockade as in the case of Fv-4r, but less effective when the roles of the resistant alleles partially interfered with the virus replication, leukemic transformation and/or cycling of target cells as suggested for Fv-2r gene action, or to resist virus infection by immunological means as are known for Rfv-1r, Rfv-2r and Rfv-3r genes which are also carried by B6-strain mice. Implication of these findings on the somatic gene therapy against retrovirus infection diseases in man are discussed.